48 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
as is ufual, Efmdna iva taana^ " We have heard, and we obey." 
On leaving the caftle, their general voice is Efmana wa awsina^ 
" We have heard, and fhall difobey." 
In the year 1791, Salah Aga, a flave of Murad Bey, was 
deputed from the government of Egypt to negotiate their peace 
with the Porte, — He carried prefents of horfes, rich fluffs, &c. 
A fpontaneous tribute, which the Porte was in no condition to 
enforce, implied obligation on the part of the latter. — He was 
well received, and afterwards was appointed WaquU es Sultan^ 
" Agent or Attorney to the Sultan in Kahira.*' , It is probable 
this office was given him to incline him to fecond the efforts of 
the Court in difuniting the Beys ; but it was ineffedual. Thefe 
had formerly experienced the evils of diviiion, and now were 
united by common intereft, grown rich, and well provided 
with flaves. So that, as I have underftood, no tribute has fmce 
that time found its way to Conftantinople. 
As the Beys are chofen from among the Mamluks, it may 
be proper to begin with fome account of that extraordinary clafs 
of men. They remain, as they have ever been, military * flaves 
imported 
* The condition of flave is fo very difl:in£l in Egypt from what it is in other 
countries, that they who defend the practice of trading inhuman flefli by its 
antiquity, and the general confent of nations, fliould be well aware how they 
adduce the example of Egypt. — In Kahira, when a flave is legally purchafed in 
the market, if after any length of time he feel difcontented with his mafter, 
has only to fay, " Carry me to the market," (Suk-es Sultan,) and the mafter 
is legally compellable to offer him for fale. 
It 
